ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PERSONS CALLED ALBIGENSES, BURNT WITHOUT THE CASTLE MINERVE

In the year of our Lord 1210, a large sacrifice of
believers, called Perfecti or Albigenses took place near the
castle Minerve; so that at one time about one hundred and
eighty persons, men as well as women, who, forsaking the Roman
antichrist, desired to adhere steadfastly to Jesus Christ and
His divine truth, were publicly burnt; these, having commended
their souls to God, are now waiting for the crown and reward of
the faithful.

As to the manner in which this occurred, different papistic
writers give this account: That the pope of Rome caused a
second crusade or campaign to be preached, in order to
annihilate with might and main the Albigenses wherever they
might be concealed; promising forgiveness of sins, yea, eternal
salvation to all who in this campaign should well acquit
themselves in murdering and burning the Waldenses.

In the meantime there were in the castle of Minerve very
many Albigenses called Perfecti (perfect ones), who
resided under the lord of the castle, and were protected by
him.

This castle, situated on a high rock, was besieged by the
legate of the pope, and so hard pressed, that the lord of the
same was finally, through lack of water, compelled to
surrender. The legate commanded that all who would not unite
with the Roman church, should he put to death.

Those within, however, (namely, the defenseless Albigenses)
said, "We do not wish to forsake our faith; we reject your Roman
faith; your labor is vain, for neither death nor life shall
cause us to depart from our faith." Such was the answer and
resolution of the men, who were all assembled together in one
house. The women, who were in another house, were found by the
abbot so courageous and undaunted that with all his fine words
he could make no impression upon them.

The count of Montfort then caused them all (namely, these
confessors) to come out of the castle, the men as well as the
women, and having ordered a large fire to be kindled, he had
them all cast into it, to the number of one hundred and forty;
all of whom were burnt alive, except three women, who, having
apostatized through weakness, escaped the fire. All the others
that were in the castle (namely, the lord with his servants and
soldiers, who had guarded the castle), complied with the will
of the papal legate.

Peter Sarnensis, speaking of these people that were put to
death, says, that these hundred and forty martyrs were of the
Albigenses called Perfecti; and adds, that they would rather be
burned alive, than unite with the Roman church. In Hist.
Albigens. Also, loh. Chassan., Hist. Albig., lib. 3,
carp. 7, ex Hist. Languedoc.

From the account of Robert of Auxerre, a strong papist, who
wrote at that time, and, it seems, was an eyewitness of the
steadfast death of these people, it appears, that about forty
more than the preceding writers have stated were burned;. which
might well be the case, namely, that the former first, and the
latter afterwards, confessed themselves to be of the same
faith, and thus were punished alike with death. He writes as
follows, "In A. D. 1210 a great expedition was undertaken by our
bishops, as well as by the lords and princes of the realm, and
by the common people. This expedition was a very noted one, and
was undertaken from pure devotion, or by vow; partly through
the zeal of faith enkindled in the hearts of the believers (so
he calls the papists), against the destroyers of the faith
(thus he calls the true Albigenses), and partly, in order to
merit the forgiveness of sins, promised by the apostolical see
(the Pope of Rome); hence they marched with their assembled
army before the castle of Minerve, which was a very strong
place."

At last the besieged offered to surrender; but when it was
proclaimed to all, that those who would turn from their heresy,
should be left free and unmolested, about one hundred and
eighty were found (namely, Albigenses) who rather suffered
themselves to be burnt alive, than desist from their heretical
wickedness (thus he calls their true faith).

Those who witnessed this, he writes, were astonished at the
inexorable obstinacy of these miserable people, who would not
listen to any salutary admonitions (thus he calls the fables of
the papists), because their reason was smitten, and thus they
voluntarily hastened to the punishment of death. Rob. Aux.
Chronol. Altiss., A. D. 1210, compare with A. Mell., 2d
book, fol. 454, col. 2.

Page 308

SIXTY PERSONS CALLED ALBIGENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT CASSER

In the year 1211, or a little before, when the count
of Montfort, by order of the pope, was exercising great tyranny
for the purpose of exterminating the Albigenses, he learned,
through an informer, or in some other way, that in a place
called Casser, there resided many of these people, under the
protection of the lord of said place. He therefore went to lay
siege to it; but those within (namely, the garrison), seeing
that they would not be able to hold out long, notwithstanding
the place was tolerably strong otherwise, capitulated, with
this agreement, that they would deliver into the hands of the
enemy, those called heretics (or Albigenses); these the bishops
sought to persuade to renounce their faith, but they could not
prevail upon them in the least; in consequence of which sixty
persons were burnt for the sake of that religion. Chris.
Hist., Albig., lib. 3, compared with A. M. Hist.,
fol. 456, cot. 4.

ABOUT ONE HUNDRED PERSONS CALLED ALBI GENSES, OR HERETICS, BURNT FOR THE FAITH IN A TOWER AT CASSAS

About the close of the year 1211, it is recorded, the
legate of the pope, having gone forth utterly to extirpate all
those that professed the confession of the above-mentioned
Albigenses, was apprised, that over eighty, but according to
others, about a hundred of that sect or heresy, as it was
called, were concealed on, or in, a tower at Cassas. They had
been sent thither by those of Rogueville (who, it seems, were
not willing that any of these defenseless people should remain
among them), that they might save their lives, until this
bloodthirsty man should have passed by. Having learned this,
the legate very easily surprised, captured and demolished this
tower, and caused all those that were in it-like sheep for the
slaughter in .the fold, who would not abandon their faith, to
be burned alive as heretics. Chass., lib. 3, cap. 15.
Also, A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 457, cot. 1.

FIFTY PERSONS CALLED ALBIGENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT CHASTELNAU D'ARI, AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1211

This fire of the papal legate continued, like a thunderbolt,
to burn and scorch among the defenseless flock of Christ,
called Albigenses, or heretics, who had concealed themselves
here and there, wherever they thought they might be secure.

In the meantime, there were fifty of these people at
Chastelnau d'Ari, shut up and closely besieged, together with
all that were in that place; by the count of Montfort, the
commander-in-chief of the papal legate. Finally, the place
having been taken, all these persons, as they would not depart
from their faith, were burnt alive, and thus, having com mended
their souls unto God, they gave their bodies for a burnt
sacrifice.

Chassanion writes, that when the Count of Montfort had taken
the city of Chastelnau d'Ari, fifty persons were found in it,
who would rather be burnt alive than returned- to the papistic
religion. Compare Chassau., lib. 3, cap. 16, with
A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 457, cot. 1.

OVER FOUR HUNDRED PERSONS CALLED INDUTI, OR ALBIGENSES, BURNT FOR THEIR FAITH, AT LAVAUR, OR VAURUM, A. D. 1211

Previously we stated, that the Albigenses, whose confession
we showed to be good and Scriptural, were called by various
names. Besides those names already explained, they were also
called Induti, or hestiti, that is, the
clothed, or covered, either because they had to
cover or conceal themselves on account of persecution, or for
some other reason.

This, at least, is certain, that they are compared by
Mellinus, 2d book, page 443, cot. 3, to the Albigenses,
called Perfecti; who were also styled, as he shows, Boni
homines, that is, good men, because they, as it
seems, were good and upright in their walk. Very many of these
good, upright, and not less believing people, were burnt for
the faith, as heretics, suffering it innocently and patiently,
in the city of Lavaur, also called Vaurum, about the year
1211. Their number, according to ancient chronicles,
amounted to over four hundred.

Nicholas Bertrand quotes the following from the papistic
chronicle of William de Podio Laurentii, "Simon, count of Montfort, hastened with the Lord's (the
Roman Pope's) army, to lay siege to the fortress or city, of
Vaurum, which Amerius, lord of Montreal and Laurack, brother of
the lady Geralda, had undertaken to defend for her sake. Within
there was no small number of those heretics called Induti, who
did not always reside there, but had congregated at that time
from distant countries.", "The army of God, therefore," he writes, (namely, the army
of the pope)"encompassed the fortress, or city, and gave the
besieged no rest night and day. Those within perceiving, . . .
surrendered unconditionally to the beleaguers."

He then goes on to relate how they dealt with those who had
guarded the city, or fortress, and coming then to the
above-mentioned people who, to live according to their faith,
had resided quietly and peaceably among the other inhabitants,
he says, "The heretics called Induti, that is, clothed, about
three hundred, others write, over four hundred, he caused to be
burned alive." Nich. Bertrand de Gest. Tholosan., fol.
27. The lives of the common people, however, were spared
upon certain conditions.

A large fire was made of wood, says Robert Altissiodorensis,
and the choice was given to all, either to turn from their
errors (so he speaks, after the manner of the papists), or to
be burnt alive; whereupon a great number, over four hun-

Page 309

dred, as stated, were found who were so obstinate in their
error (as he calls their true faith) that they would rather be
burnt than confess the Roman Catholic faith. Chronol., page
106. Also A. Mell., 2d book, fol. 456, Col. 2,
3.

COMMENCEMENT PROPER OF THE HISTORY OF THE MARTYRS OF THIS CENTURY GREAT PERSECUTION OF THE BELIEVERS,IN THE YEAR 1206

In the year 1206, it is recorded, that Pope Innocent
III exercised great cruelty against the followers of the
doctrine of Peter Bruis and Henry of Toulouse, who, among other
things, rejected infant baptism, the mass, and
transubstantiation, as has already been stated. The manner,
however, in which this cruelty was manifested toward them, is
not expressed. P. 1. Twisck, Chron., page 523, Col.
1.

Undoubtedly, the pope then caused to be carried out what he
had threatened, A. D. 1198, in his three letters, against the
Waldenses and others that were called heretics, namely, that
they should be spoiled of their goods, expelled from the
country, and the material sword of the princes used against
them. In regard to said three letters and threats, see A.
Mell., 2d book, fol. 444, Col. 2, 3, and fol.
445, cot. 1.

A MAN BURNT ALIVE, AT LONDON, IN ENGLAND, FOR THE FAITH OF THE WALDENSES, A. D. 1210

In various ancient histories we read, that not only in
France and Germany, but also in England, the doctrine of the
Albi-Waldenses* obtained a foothold, so that in said Island,
especially at London, numbers were found, who made this
profession, to the great detriment of the Roman religion. On
this account, the popish clergy, unable to brook this, became
filled with great bitterness against them, so that they, it
seems, determined to punish one of them in such an exemplary
manner, that it would ter the rest, and cause them to leave the
country; or at least, to desist from confessing and speaking
otherwise than those of the Roman Catholic church.

Thereupon they apprehended one of their number, whose name
we have not been able to learn because they, afterwards
perhaps, were ashamed of the deed, and in order to,give their
design some semblance [of justice], they charged him with
having reviled the clergy, and that he, consequently, was not
fit to live, but deserved to die an ignominious and miserable
death. He was accordingly burnt alive, A. D. 1210.

Concerning this, Balaeus writes, from the Chronicle of
London: That the Albigenses in England

* Albigenses, says the writer; however they were
of the profession of the Waldenses; but because of their origin
from the province of Albf, they were called Albigenses.

P. J. Twisck, having given some account of many Waldensian
martyrs at Strasburg, for the year 1210, proceeds
thus, "The Chronicle of London states, that also in England a
great number, namely, of Waldenses, or, as has been stated,
Albigenses, who were of the same faith, were found, and that
one of them was burnt at London." Chron., page 526, Col.
1.

NOTE.-P. J. Twisck, after relating said matter concerning
the Albigensian martyr, at London, adds, "A. D. 1210. In
the city of Narbonne one hundred and thirty persons were put to
death by the priests, because they reproved the great abuses
and idolatry of the popes. In the same year there were also
killed at Paris, in France, twenty-four martyrs and witnesses
of the truth, because they would not consent to the false
doctrine of antichrist." Chron., p. 526, from Guil.
Merul. Tijdtthresoor, fol. 800. Hist. der Mart.
Adri., fol. 39. Chron. Zeg., fol. 299. Henr., Box. fol.
23.

TWENTY-FOUR PERSONS BURNT ALIVE FOR THE BELIEF OF THE WALDENSES, AT PARIS, A. D. 1210

Christian Massaeus, having noticed the case of a great
company of martyrs who, having been found in the castle
Minerve, were all burnt alive as heretics, adds this
account, "At that time, namely, A. D. 1210, also at
Paris, twenty-four who were of the same obstinacy (thus he,
after the manner of the papists, calls the steadfastness of
these people), were burnt alive." Christ. Mass. Chron., lib.
17, A. D. 1210, compared with the large Christen
Martelarersboeck, edit. 1619, fol. 455, Col. 4.

The writer, after the manner of the papists, calls these
people heretics, and their steadfast faith obstinacy; but how
can anything good proceed from the mouth of the wicked?
However, this must not offend us, since not only these, but
even the ancient holy prophets, apostles, and servants of God,
were stigmatized with many opprobrious names, yea, titles of
the devil, by evil worldly men.

ABOUT ONE HUNDRED PERSONS CALLED WAL DENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT STRAS BURG; THIRTY-NINE AT BINGEN; AND EIGHTEEN AT MENTZ, A. D. 1212

A. D. 1212, the true doctrine of the Gospel began to
manifest itself to a great extent in Alsace, among the
Waldenses, who were one people and of the same faith with the
Albigenses. But the prince of darkness, unable to endure this
great light, exerted every means to extinguish it, so that in
said year, in Strasburg alone, about a hundred persons,

Page 310

men as well as women, were burnt alive on the same day, for
this confession, by the servants of antichrist, particularly
through the bishop of that city.

Concerning this, the papistic writer H. Mutius writes, "A. D.
1212 a heresy arose in Alsace, by which noble and ignoble were
led astray. They maintained that it was lawful to eat flesh
every day throughout the whole year, and that there is as much
excess in the immoderate eating of fish, as of any kind of
flesh." Again, "That they do very wrong who forbid marriage;
since God has created all things, and everything may be used in
a holy manner, with thanksgiving."*, "This, their opinion," he writes,"they maintained very
firmly, and many believed them. Moreover, they did not hesitate
(hear how the papists speak) to revile the most holy lord, the
pope, because he prohibited ecclesiastical persons from
marrying, and bade them abstain on certain forbidden days from
some kinds of food. The pope of Rome therefore commanded that
these people should be made away with and put to death. Hence,
about a hundred were burnt together on the same day, by the
bishop of Strasburg. H. Mut., Chron. lib. 19.

Bruschius, in his history of the Monasteries of Germany,
relates, that at the same time, thirty-five, or, as others
read, thirty-nine persons, inhabitants of Mentz, were brought
to Bingen, and there burnt alive for the doctrine of the
Waldenses; and at another time, by the same bishop of Mentz,
eighteen others for the same confession, Also A. Melt., 2d
book, fol. 457, col. 3; also P. J. Twisck, Chron., Q.
526, col. 1, from Guil. Merulae Tijdt-thresoor, fol.
800.

CRUEL MODE OF INQUISITION OVER THE DOCTRINE OF THE WALDENSES, OR OF THOSE CALLED HERETICS, A. D. 1214

In the year 1214, Conrad of Marpurg, a Dominican
friar, was appointed by Pope Innocent III, grand inquisitor of
the faith over all Germany, and sent by him closely to search
out and examine such as were said to have strayed from the
faith of the Roman church. This commission he carried out with
such cruelty for full nineteen years, that an incredible number
of persons, declared heretics by him, were put to death, partly
by fire and partly with the sword.

Trithemius speaks of the manner of this inquisition,
saying, "That this inquisitor, Conrad of Marpurg, used to try
the heretics (the true Christians), by giving them a red-hot
iron into their hands, and to deliver all those that were burnt
by it as heretics, unto the secular judge, to be sentenced to
the fire." Hence it came that only very few escaped, but that
all who were once accused and

* What the Waldenses held with regard to infant
baptism, the mass, and transubstantiation, has been previously
shown. brought to him for examination were, without mercy,
condemned by him as heretics to be burned., "There were some," he writes,"who held that he condemned
very many innocent persons, because the red-hot iron, finding
none without sin, although they otherwise had never been
tainted with any heresy, burned almost everyone that took it."
Trithem. Chron. Hirsaug., A. D., 1214 and 1215. Also A.
Melt., 2d book, fol. 459, col. 3; also fol. 466, col.
4.

THE PRECEDING INQUISITION CONTINUED

This was the most cruel and dreadful time which one could
live to see; for this entire infernal inquisition, which was
carried on with red-hot iron and other intolerable means, had
penetrated even into the Netherlands, so that there, not less
than in Germany, this tyranny was carried on in the same
manner, and even worse.

I cannot forbear here to inform you, though with a terrified
and shuddering heart, of what I have found with respect to this
matter, in a certain account which has just fallen into my
hands, as it were, for this occasion. Marcus Zueris van
Boxhorn, author of the Nederlandtsch Historien, in his
first book, p. 23, printed A. D. 1649, at Leyden, and
dedicated to the H. M. Lords States, gives the following
account with reference to it:

The trial by red-hot iron.-If a person charged with
holding sentiments contrary to the doctrine of the Roman
church, from fear of a cruel death, denied it, the accused was
delivered into the hands and custody of a priest, who was to
find out the truth. Before making the trial, then commonly
called the ordeal, they together spent three days
ostensibly in fasting and prayer. This done, they went together
to the church, where the priest, in his sacerdotal attire,
placed himself in front of the altar, upon which he laid a
piece of iron, first chanting the song of the three children in
the fiery furnace, "Praise the Lord, all His works," etc., and
then pronouncing a blessing over the altar, and the fire in
which the iron was to be laid. The iron, while heating on the
coals, was repeatedly sprinkled with holy water, and in the
meantime mass was read. When the priest took the wafer into his
hand, he adjured the accused, praying meanwhile (ostensibly) to
God that by His righteousness He would discover the truth of
the matter, using among others these words

The priest's prayer over the red-hot iron.- "'Lord God
I we pray Thee that Thou wouldst clearly manifest the truth in
this Thy servant; Thou, O God, who hast in former times done
great and wonderful signs by fire, among Thy people; who didst
deliver Abraham, Thy son, from the fire of the Chaldeans by
which many perished; who didst preserve Lot, Thy servant, when
Sodom and Gomorrah were justly laid in the ashes by the fire;
who, in the sending of the Holy Ghost by the light of fiery and
flaming tongues, didst separate the be-

Page 311

lievers from the unbelievers; grant us the grace, while we
make this trial, that through this red-hot fire we may discover
the truth. If this, Thy servant, who is now being tried, is
guilty, let his hand be seared and burnt by the fire. But if,
on the contrary, he is innocent, let him not be hurt by the
fire. Lord God, to whom all secrets are known, however hid they
are, fulfill, by Thy goodness, the expectation of our
confidence and faith, while we make this examination; that the
innocent may be acquitted; but the guilty detected and
punished.', "When the priest had uttered this prayer," writes M. S.
Boxhorn, p. 24,"he again sprinkled the redhot iron with
holy water, and pronounced this blessing over it: 'The blessing
of God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
come down upon this iron, that by it we may be enabled to
pronounce a true judgment."'

How the iron was given into the hand ofthe
accused.-This having been said, the flaming iron was given
into the hand of the accused, who had to carry it nine paces.
The hand was then closely wrapped up with cloth by the priest,
and sealed, for three days, at the end of which it was
inspected. If it was wounded, the accused was judged to be
guilty; if not, he was acquitted.

Oh, cruel inquisition I by which not only men, but even God
was tried and tempted to the utmost."Thou shalt not," says
Christ,"tempt the Lord thy God." Matt. 4:7.

Another examination, by hot water.-Sometimes also a
kettle with hot, boiling water was used, into which the accused
had to thrust his hand up to the elbow, in order to ascertain
his guilt or innocence. This procedure was called
Ketel-vang, in the ancient Netherlands, and particularly
in the Friesian statutes and laws.

The trial by cold water.-Likewise, and for the same
purpose, the cold and consecrated water of the canals or rivers
was used. The accused were cast into it, and from the sinking
or floating of their bodies, the righteousness or
unrighteousness of their case was judged. This mode was carried
out in the following manner at that time: A priest, one of the
judges, went with the accused, and a great train of others, to
a deep canal, ditch, or river, near-by; and standing on the
shore or brink, he adjured the water with these words, "I adjure
thee, O Water." However, first he gave the accused a cup of
holy water to drink, saying, "This holy water be for a test to
thee this day.'; Turning then to the water, he exclaimed, "I
adjure thee, O Water, in the name, etc., who created thee in
the beginning, and would have thee serve to meet the
necessities of man, and be separated from the waters above." He
then adjured the water again in the name of Christ, and then in
the name of the Holy Ghost, and finally in the name of the Holy
Trinity; and this, with such hard, stern and severe words that
I am shocked, and afraid in my very soul to repeat
them."Thereupon followed," writes M. S. Boxhorn,"several
additional solemn adjurations (these, however, he does not
relate), which, when the priest had finished, the accused was
stripped starknaked, and cast or driven into the water. If he
sank, he was considered innocent; but if he floated, he was
forthwith condemned and punished by fire, as being guilty."
Page 26.

If any one should desire to read a full account as regards
said papistic adjurations over the water, let him consult M. S.
Boxhorn, Nederlandtsch Hist., 1st book, pp. 25, 26.

THE MANNER IN WHICH THESE TRIALS WERE COM MENCED IN THE NETHERLANDS, ABOUT THE YEAR 1215

Before bringing persons to the trial with red-hot iron, hot
or boiling water, or in cold rivers, which was called the
severest or extremest examination, milder means were employed,
especially in the Netherlands; however, with such intricacies,
and so many snares, that an honest soul, that would act
candidly, and without dissimulation, could not escape but was
in danger of losing his life.

The above-mentioned Boxhorn, describing the manner of
examination used at that time against the Vaudois, who also
belonged to the Poor Men of Lyons, and were at that time one
people with the Albigenses and Waldenses, but afterwards
differed with them in various articles, relates: That the
Dominicans, a certain order of monks, were at that time sent by
the pope here into the Netherlands, as inquisitors; who, in
order to well execute their office as it were, had put in
writing a certain mode of examination, which literally read as
follows

Examination.-"When any one in the Netherlands is brought
before the judge, suspected and accused of heresy, he shall
first be asked: Why are you apprehended? Does any one know of
your imprisonment? Have you not learned from any one the cause
of your apprehension? If he say

I do not know; answer him: They say that you, seduced by
certain teachers who keep themselves concealed, have, to a
considerable extent, departed from the Christian faith, as it
is publicly taught in this country and elsewhere, throughout
all Christendom. Let him answer as well or as much as he will,
and let forthwith an oath be demanded and put to him, unless
his youth does not admit of his swearing. Before he takes the
oath, these words shall be spoken to him: See, you are to swear
here, that you will tell in all sincerity the truth as it is
known to you, concerning yourself as well as others in regard
to whom you will be questioned. If he refuses to swear,* he
shall be suspected so much the more.

* From this it is quite evident that said people
had an aversion to the swearing of oaths. But some one may say:
This has refer. ence to adjuring their belief. To this it may
be replied, that the oath demanded here did not aim at anything
further than the tell. ing of the truth, as the preceding words
declare.Page 312

"See well to it also, that he have no reason to say that he
was compelled by threats or otherwise to swear; but if he is
ready willingly to take the oath, present these words to
him

The oath administered by the inquisitors, near the
chapter-house of Utrecht, to those who at that time were called
heretics.--"I, N. N. N., swear to God Almighty, my Lord of
Utrecht (or otherwise) and the lords present in his stead, that
I will tell the pure truth, without fear, of all matters known
to me, concerning which I shall be questioned here; not only in
regard to myself, but also to others. So help me God and His
holy mother, in my last hour." Boxhorn, Nederl. Hut., Q.
15.

In this manner the inquisitors proceeded, and then observed
the following mode of examination, which it seems they had to
employ as their fundamental rule, against those who were called
heretics, "If he is not known to you (says this rule) question him
thus: What is your name? Where were you born? Who was your
father? Again: How often have you confessed to the teachers of
the heretics, who secretly circulate that they have come into
the world in place of the apostles, to go from place to place,
preaching the Gospel?*

Again, "How long have you resided here? How old were you when
you began to give audience to these heretics? When did you last
confess to them? For whom did you take them? Do they also wear
crowns [the tonsur] and the priestly garb? What penance did
they impose on you? Did they not charge you to say an Ave
Maria? Did you believe that it was in their power to
forgive your sins? Who first directed you to these heretics? To
how many heretics have you confessed? What was the name of the
first? the second? the third? etc., "Did your parents also hold this heretical belief? How often
have you received the body of Christ? Have you also confessed
to our priests? Have you also confessed to them, that you hold
this heretical belief? Why did you not confess it? How often
have you heard them teach? where first? in what houses, or
places? in what room or chamber? by day or at night? in the
morning or evening? Who were there besides you? What did your
teachers preach respecting purgatory? It there a purgatory? How
many times a day do you pray for the souls of your parents,
friends, and benefactors? What alms have you given for them?
How many days have you fasted for them? How many masses have
you had read for them?, "Can you say the Ave Maria! Say it. Can you say any
prayers to the saints? Do you believe, that the holy Mary, and
other saints, are acquainted with our distresses, and that they
are filled with compassion on this account, and pray for us?
Who is the patron of your parish? When is his day ,celebrated?
Have you properly celebrated him?

* It seems that these inquisitors thought that
these people also observed auricular confession; which is a
grave misapprehension, seeing their confession avowed the
contrary.

What kind of a saint is it? Is it an angel? or a
martyr? or a confessor? or an apostle? or a virgin? or a widow?
What did you bring as an offering on their feast day? Have you
chosen for yourself a certain apostle? Who is your apostle?, "What do you hold with regard to the worship of the holy
cross? the nails? the crown of thorns? the spear? and the
images of the saints?, "Have you ever journeyed to Rome, to obtain forgiveness of
your sins? Have you sprinkled yourself with holy water? Have
you tasted the consecrated salt? Have you consecrated twigs and
tapers in your house? Have you done this with a pure and
upright heart, as do other Christians, who by your people are
called Strangersf or have you done it merely for
appearance' sake, so as not to be detected in your heresy? Tell
the simple truth., "Do you not believe that St. Martin has become a saint, and
that his holy soul is now in the kingdom of heaven? Will you
drink in the name and to the remembrance of St. Martin? Do you
know any hymns to the honor of God, or His holy mother? and so
forth., "Say, finally: Will you desist with all your heart from your
errors, and separate yourself from the heretics, and henceforth
have no fellowship with them? If so, then swear thus:

The second oath administered by the inquisitors to those
who were at that time called heretics; which none of the true
martyrs ever swore. "I, N. N. N., swear an oath, to God
Almighty, my lord, bishop N. N., and the lords present in his
stead, without any dissimulation, that henceforth I will go no
more to the people that call themselves, etc., and will have
fellowship neither with them nor with their leaders, teachers,
etc., as long as they remain heretics. Moreover, I forswear
(see what paptistic tricks these are), all manner of unbelief
that is contrary to the open faith taught and maintained
everywhere in the holy Roman church and in Christendom. And
that I will also submit to penance for my transgressions, when
and as it shall, though in mercy, be imposed upon me. So truly
help me God and His mother, in my last hour." Boxhorn,
page 18. Concerning the examination, see page
15-17.

NOTE.-Who does not see, beloved reader, that these were
snares from which the pious could not extricate themselves
without losing their lives? for it was certain that the Poor
Men of Lyons, in those times, whether called Vaudois,*
Waldenses, or Albigenses, did not swear at all; which,
especially as regards the Waldenses and Albigenses, has been
distinctly proved in our previous explanation. This, then, was
the first snare which they could not escape.

In the second place, by the form of that oath it was
proposed to them, that they should forsake their entire
religion, faith, and worship, and join

* That the very odious name"Vaudois", was given
the Poor Men of Lyons, need offend no one; since Christ Himself
and His holy apostles were often called evil and opprobrious
names, by their adversaries.Page 313

themselves to the Roman church which they held to be worse
than Babylon. Hxow could this be done by them with a good
conscience? In no wise. This snare, therefore, they could
likewise not escape. What, then, had they to expect? Nothing
less than certain death; yea, a cruel, ignominious, and
accursed death, though blessed for those who, remaining
steadfast, suffered it.

I will say nothing now of the cruel and horrible manner of
inquisition, by red-hot iron, hot water, as also in open
rivers,* which generally followed upon the examination just
stated.

What heathen or barbarians have ever acted thus? It is true,
they put the pious witnesses of Jesus to death in a very
painful manner; however, that was the end of it; and, besides,
sometimes means remained by which it was possible to escape
death, and yet keep the faith. And we nowhere read, that they
ever had such a mode of inquisition over matters of faith; but
the Romanists, who call themselves Christians, were not afraid
or ashamed of it.

Certainly, here one or the other, either the body or the
soul, had to be sacrificed by the martyrs, for if they would
save the body, by forsaking the faith, which they, in their
conscience, recognized as the genuine, yea, the only and
eternal truth, they were in danger, yea, fully assured of
losing their souls; on the other hand, if they sought to
preserve their souls, by their good confession, and by
forsaking the superstitions of popery, they had to lose their
bodies, and this by the most cruel, horrible, and miserable
death; which, according to the custom of that time, was to be
placed alive into the flames until death ensued.

In this manner, very many, yea, almost a countless number,
of pious Christians, called Albigenses and Waldenses, perished
in those times; who, constrained by the love of Christ, to hold
fast the confession of their faith, willingly exchanged this
earthly for the heavenly; suffering here the tabernacle of
their body to be dissolved, in order to have a building with
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. II
Cor. 5:1.

We will now see, what persons perished for the faith, in
that cruel inquisition, particularly under the test of red-hot
iron, not in the Netherlands, but in Germany, where it first
originated.

ABOUT EIGHTY PERSONS CALLED WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT STRASBURG, A. D. 1215

Now, when the throne of antichrist began to suffer much
detriment through the doctrine of the Waldenses, and infant
baptism, the swearing of oaths, the secular power and dominion,
the authority of the Pope of Rome, the mass, purgatory,
absolution or forgiveness of sins by the so-called clergy,
pilgrimages, visitations of the holy sepulchres,

* For further information respecting the method
of the inquisitors, see our account of the martyrs for the year
1301

etc. prayers, or sacrifices for the dead, and other
things pertaining to popery, were opposed by them, they saying,
that these things ought to have no place in the true church of
Christ; it came to pass, A. D. 1215, that this cruel man,
Conrad of Marpurg, of whom it was stated, for the year 1214,
that he had been sent into Germany, as grand inquisitor, by
Pope Innocent III, apprehended over eighty persons, both men
and women, who were called Waldenses and made the same
confession. They were also examined, concerning their faith, in
that horrible manner of which we have already spoken, namely,
by taking a red-hot iron into their bare hands; and having all
of them endured it patiently, and remaining steadfast, they
were finally condemned to be burnt alive as heretics; which was
done to them all on the same day, at Strasburg, in said year of
their apprehension, A. D. 1215.

Of this the papistic writer Trithemius gives the following
account, "At this time, namely A. D. 1215, there were very many
who were heretics secretly, men as well as women, who spread
divers strange errors throughout all Germany, France, and
Italy; of whom great numbers were apprehended and burnt alive.
For in said year more than eighty were apprehended in
Strasburg, at the same time, among whom but very few were found
innocent; for if any of them deni ed the heresy,* Conrad of
Marpurg, the pope's inquisitor, would try them by giving them
red-hot iron into their hands, and deliver all those that were
burnt by it, to the secular judge, as heretics, to be sentenced
to the fire." Trith. Chron. Hiysaug. Also, A.
Mell., 2d book, fol. 459. C. Mellinus calls these
martyrs Waldenses, fol. 457, col. 3; and their confession he
has shown, fol. 446, col. 1, 2.

SEVERAL CHRISTIANS BURNT FOR THE FAITH, AT TOULOUSE, A. D. 1215

About that time, Pope Innocent III had advised Dominic, that
by means of constant preaching and disputation he should
wondrously execute the office of inquisition, which he had
entrusted to him, namely, against the so-called heretics; and
that he should reconcile to the Roman church those who should
ostensibly become converted; but should justly condemn such as
remained refractory, that is, steadfast in their faith.
Sixtus 5, in Diplonn. instit. Festi S. Petri Mart.

Dominic discharged his inquisitorial office so energetically
in the city of Toulouse, against the heretics mentioned, that
is the Christians called Waldenses, that several who had been
cast into prison, were, by his advice, delivered to the secular
judge, to be burned. For, when in those times people could not
be overcome by way of argument, with the Word of God, they
began to dispute with fire

* It is necessary here to understand that by the
word"heresy" those people did not mean their orthodox faith;
but all that could truly be called heresy; and this they then
disavowed; whereby this inquisitor, (to all appearance) though
he was very crafty, was greatly misled.Page 314

and sword against them; and then it was an easy matter to
conquer them, not in regard to:the truth, but in regard to
their bodies and lives. This was also the case with these pious
people of Toulouse, who would rather lose their lives than
forsake the truth; which they confirmed in the flames by their
death, having commended their souls into the hands of God, in
the year of our Lord 1215.

The papist Theodoric, in his biography, of Dom-, inic, makes
mention of these martyrs, saying, "When he (Dominic) was preaching, at this time, in the parts
of Toulouse, it happened that some. heretics were apprehended
in that city and were convicted by him; whom, when they would
not return to the Catholic church, he delivered to the secular
Judge. When they had been condemned to be burnt." Theod. in
vita Dominici, citate Bzov. ad A. D. 1215, Art. 11,
12. Also, A. Mellinus, 2d book, fol. 460, col.
4.

NOTE.-A. D. 1220 lived the strong and celebrated theologian
Almaricus; he reproved as idolatry the invocation of saints,
and denied transubstantiation; on which account he was burnt at
Paris. P. J. Twisck, page 537, col. 1, from Hist.
Andr., page 162.

A. D. 1218.-In a certain ancient history of the martyrs of
this time, I have found the following account, in which one of
the orthodox believers presents a summary of the doctrine of
the papists, as opposed to the true doctrine of the true church
of , God in those times; it reads as follows

1."They found their church upon the succession and
derivation of the bishops (though erroneously) from the times
of the apostles.

2."They call those bishops, who consecrate churches,
chapels, and altars; who make mass priests and sanctuaries of
the altars.

3."They regard the pope as the supreme bishop, the head of
their churches; who may be reproved by none but God.

4."They are divided into many contending sects; some are
ecclesiastics, some seculars. The ecclesiastics have separated
themselves from the common people-whom they call the laity-and
are th mselves variously divided. Some are called monk and
nuns; who vow, not to marry; to submit to voluntary poverty; to
observe human institutions, such as, to have nothing to do with
money; to wear a gray, white, or black cap; to eat no flesh; to
be dumb at times.; and other similar false and invented forms
of holiness. Others are called secular priests; who also may
not marry, but like the others, have to do a great amount of
muttering and reading.

5."They have priests, who are consecrated by the bishops, to
offer up sacrifice for the living and the dead.

6."All these ecclesiastics hold themselves exempt from
punishment by civil authority, and bear no burdens with the
citizens, since they are exempt. 7."They seek their salvation
out of Christ, in their own works and merits, which they also
sell to each other for money; such as masses, indulgences,
pilgrimages, and the merits of departed saints, which they also
sell to the dead, who, they say, are in purgatory.

8."They have an idol or patron for every city, village, or
hamlet.

9."They divide the power and honor of God among the departed
saints; thus, seamen invoke St. Nicholas, St. Christopher, and
St. Anna; women in travail, St. Mary; for gum-boils, St.
Appollonia; against pestilence, St. Rochus and St. Anthony.

10."They set up images in their churches; they light tapers,
torches, and lamps before them; they clothe them in cloth,
silk, velvet, silver, and gold; they carry them with great
reverence on their shoulders; they visit them in different
places, and offer gifts to them (to which practice the popes
and bishops append indulgence for sins); they kneel before
them; they kiss, and worship them.

11."In their oaths they swear by God and all His saints,
etc.

12."They pray to, and call upon God, without considering
their need, and without thinking why they call upon Him.; they
give Him their prayers by the number, as apples are bought;
they read, in the hours, rosaries, etc.

13."They create many sabbaths, which they call holidays, in
honor of departed saints; on which days manual labor is
forbidden on pain of punishment; while drinking to excess,
bartering, and gambling remain unpunished. On these days they
generally commit shameful idolatry; the services are. read in
an unknown tongue; water is conjured; the organ is played; and
the dead are called on for help and assistance.

14."To the two sacraments, or signs of grace, instituted by
Christ in His church, namely, holy baptism and the holy Supper,
which they have shamefully corrupted, they have added five
others, namely, confirmation, matrimony, ordination of mass
priests, auricular confession, and extreme unction.

15."In baptism they leave out the most important part,
namely the preaching of the Gospel; and add of their own,
conjured salt, grease, spittle, and tapers, and exorcise the
devil from the child which he never possessed.

16."They also baptize bells, giving them names.

17."They have changed the Lord's Supper into an offering for
the living and the dead; they conJure the bread with five
words,* and persuade the people, that the bread is changed into
flesh, and the wine into blood.

18."They withhold the wine from the laity, contrary to the
command of Christ, who said: 'Drink ye all of it.', "Floc est enim corpus meum", i. e. for this is my body.

Page 315

19."They worship the bread, and say that it is their God;
they enclose it in coffers and ciboria; they carry it through
the streets; they burn torches and tapers before it, also at
noonday; they address and salute it; but it answers not.

20."In their churches they have altars draped with linen,
upon which burning tapers are placed at daytime, when mass is
read.

21."Mass is read by a mass priest, who is hired to do it for
money, or a yearly salary; he comes clothed in strange attire,
after Jewish fashion, with a drinking cup of silver or:gold in
his hand, and accompanied by an attendant. He then says his
confession before the altar, in Latin (though the attendant
does not understand it), and invokes the assistance of the dead
saints. Then, having kept up his mummery for a considerable
time, having spoken loud and low, turning himself hither and
thither, kissing and licking, he finally takes bread and wine,
and forthwith offers the same to God, for the redemption of
souls, for the hope of salvation, and the health of those
present. Thus they reject Thy sacrifice, O Christ Jesus, which
Thou once didst make for our salvation. O God, says the writer,
how canst Thou suffer this? He then calls the dead saints to
the feasts, desiring to be aided by their merits. Over the
bread he breathes these five words: Hoc ist enim corpus
meum, that is

For this is my body; supposing that thereby the bread will
be changed into flesh. He then holds it above his head, for the
people to worship it. So he does also with the cup. Then he
prays for all those who sleep in Christ, that they may obtain a
place of refreshing. Thereupon he prays to the Father, to
accept His Son, whom they believe to have there, as graciously
as he accepted the offerings of Melchisedec and of Abel.
Finally, he worships the bread, calling it the Lamb of God.
Having worshiped the Lamb, he breaks it in pieces, and eats it
up, also quaffing the wine, which he imagines to be the Lamb's
blood. This is the glorious mass of the papists, which, says
our author, is a shameful corruption of the Supper of Christ,
and has been reprehended by many godly men, who on this account
had shed their blood.

22."Such masses they read in honor of dead saints, of the
sacrament, of the cross, the spear, and the nails.

23."They sell the same as a remedy against all sickness,
against storm, thunder, lightning, hail, tempests at sea, and
every calamity. Every man is served according to his money;
they who give little, have a dry mass, or a wet mass without
singing; those who give much, get a half-sung mass, or one
partly sung, according as to how much they give.

24."They teach, that their invented sacrament of
confirmation is of more importance than the sacrament of
baptism, instituted by Christ; and that baptism is incomplete
without confirmation.

25."They dissolve marriage, in order that the husband or the
wife may become spiritual, that is, a priest, monk, or nun,
contrary to the command of Christ: What God hath joined
together, let no man put asunder.", "Time would fail me," writes this zealous man,"if I were to
recount all the falsities of the papists, in life, doctrine;
and sacraments; and still they can endure no admonition to
reform, but persecute with fire and sword, those who admonish
and reprove them." Ex Author. Tempor., A. D. 1218,
compared with the History of the Martyrs, by J. S.,
edition 1645, fol. 32, col. 1-3. Gerard de la
Motte, deacon of the Christians called Albi-Waldenses, with
some of his fellow-believers, burnt for the faith, at Borriens,
A. D. 1227.

When the believing defenseless. Albi-Waldenses* had enjoyed
rest for a season, and the lily of their true faith was
beginning, in some measure, to grow and blossom, in all purity
and beauty (as compared with former times), the thorns of
persecution immediately arose over it; inasmuch as these pious
and upright people were forthwith deprived of their liberty. by
the Romanists; so that as soon as it was noticed, that they
increased, here or there, though secretly, under the protection
of their authorities, means were sought without delay, to
subdue, yea, utterly to exterminate, them.

This appeared A. D. 1227, when, upon the mere report that a
few of these people resided in the town of Borriens, the whole
place (in order to apprehend them), was besieged and enclosed
by Humbert of Beaujeu, who, having made himself master of the
place, and having entered it, apprehended said people, and, as
they would not desist from their faith, caused them to be burnt
alive; all of whom testified to the truth and uprightness of
their faith, as gold in the furnace, by their steadfast death
in the midst of the flames.

Certain papistic writers say, that there were some in
Borriens, who were said to be heretics, and who, as they would
not desist from their belief, were burnt alive; among whom
there is mentioned one Gerard de la Motte, who, it is said, was
their deacon or minister. This is stated to have occurred A.
D. 1227, in the time of Humbert of Beaujeu, whom the king
had left in Languedoc. hignier, Hist. Eccles., from
Vincentius and others already cited, and Chron. Moat
f ortensi Hist. Adde Gaguin., lib. 7, and Paul. Aemil.,
lib. 7, de Cest. Franc. in Lud. 8. Also, Abr. Mell., 2d book,
page 464, col. 3.

OF VARIOUS PAPAL STATUTES AND ORDINANCES INSTITUTED AGAINST THE WALDENSES, OR SO-CALLED HERETICS, ABOUT A. D. 1229

Franciscus Pegna, a Romanist, in a tract written by him to
John Calderinus, touching the manner of proceeding against the
heretics, declares to have

* Albigenses says one writer.Page 316

found in past years, in the Vatican Library, as well as in
an old parchment manuscript book, which had been brought from
the inquisition from Florence to Rome, information respecting
various councils held in those times against the Waldenses, in
France. Among others, of one held in the year 1229 in Toulouse,
a place where the Anabaptists, called Waldenses, greatly
increased. The statutes and ordinances enacted there were
published by Cardinal Romanus, Legate of the Pope. Franc.
Pegna. T. 11. Doctor., part 2, fol. 410, edition
Tenet., 1584.

Among other things adduced by the aforementioned Franciscus
Pegna, in said tract, from the second council of the prelates
of France, there is also found the ecclesiastical ordinance
concerning the general abjuration of heresy, which reads as
follows

Of the abjuration of heresy.-"In order that, through
the help of God, the heretics may be more easily exterminated,
and the Roman Catholic faith the sooner planted in the land, we
decree, that you shall perfectly observe all the statutes,
ecclesiastical ordinances, laws, and commandments that have
been enacted regarding this matter, by the apostolical see (the
pope and his legates), and by the princes. Moreover, that you
make all males as well as females, the male sex from fourteen
years and upwards, the female sex from twelve years and
upwards, abjure ail heresy, and, besides, promise with an oath,
that they will observe the Roman Catholic faith, defend the
Catholic church, and persecute the heretics. All those who,
after such abjuration, shall be found to have apostatized, and
not to have observed or fulfilled the penance imposed upon
them, shall be punished with the proper punishment, such
apostates deserve."

Of the demolition of the houses of the
Wald.enses.-The fifth chapter of the council of Toulouse
contains the following brief ecclesiastical ordinance
respecting the demolition of the houses of the heretics,
namely, of the Waldenses and Albigenses, "We ordain, that the house in which a heretic is discovered,
shall be razed to the ground; and the land or farm upon which a
heretic is found, shall be confiscated."

0 f the forfeiture of all their goods.-In the 35th
chapter of the council of Beziers we read, "Also the houses in
which any heretic shall be found, living or dead, accused or
condemned, being there with the knowledge or consent of the
proprietors of said houses, provided said proprietors have
attained their legal age, you shall cause to be demolished, and
shall confiscate all the goods of those who live in them,
unless they can legally prove or show their innocence or
ignorance." This much of the year 1229, in the second book of
the History of the Persecutions, page 465, col. 3.